Originally posted by Bardock42
M-mainly?Meaning by you?
Enough people that it got into Britannica.
Originally posted by Bardock42
M-mainly?Meaning by you?
Enough people that it got into Britannica.
Originally posted by Symmetric ChaosMostly weak on Britannica's part not to mention the other definitions.
Enough people that it got into Britannica.
Either way, I don't know of statistics that say which parts of the population or scientific sources consider which definition as correct, so I can't comment on the dominance of one over the other. Just find it a bit presumptuous to take the one you happen to be familiar with as the dominant one without any evidence. If he has some, fair enough (though, it still doesn't change my initial point that the whole of America as well as South and North America each can be considered a continent)
Originally posted by Bardock42
Mostly weak on Britannica's part not to mention the other definitions.Either way, I don't know of statistics that say which parts of the population or scientific sources consider which definition as correct, so I can't comment on the dominance of one over the other. Just find it a bit presumptuous to take the one you happen to be familiar with as the dominant one without any evidence. If he has some, fair enough (though, it still doesn't change my initial point that the whole of America as well as South and North America each can be considered a continent)
Since this is moderately interesting here are some relatively concise articles.
A continent can be defined as one of several major land masses on the earth. There is no standard definition for the number of continents but usually the numbers six or seven are used. By most accounts, there are a maximum of seven continents - Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.
Most students in the U.S. are taught that there are seven continents. The National Geographic Society recognizes seven.
In Europe, many students are taught about six continents - North and South America are combined to form a single America. Therefore, the six continents are Africa, America, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, and Europe. A couple of years ago, I got into a relatively headed discussion through email with a European who could not understand how North and South America could be considered two separate continents, but this person readily accepted the fact that Europe and Asia were two separate continents.
Many geographers and scientists now refer to six continents, where Europe and Asia are combined (since they're one solid landmass). Thus, these six continents are Africa, Antarctica, Australia, Eurasia, North America, and South America. I personally like this distinction - I could never understand how you could divide Europe and Asia in the middle of a landmass. It seems to be more of a political or cultural division rather than a geographic one.
http://journals.aol.com/bowermanb/GWBlog/entries/2005/02/25/how-many-continents-are-there/262
Six or Seven Continents is a Common Answer
A continent is one of several major land masses on the earth. There is no standard definition for the number of continents but you will commonly find that the numbers six or seven are used.
By most standards, there are a seven continents - Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. Most students in the United States are taught that there are seven continents.
In Europe and other parts of the world, many students are taught of six continents, where North and South America are combined to form a single continent of America. Thus, these six continents are Africa, America, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, and Europe.
Many scientists now refer to six continents, where Europe and Asia are combined (since they're one solid geologic landmass). Thus, these six continents are Africa, Antarctica, Australia, Eurasia, North America, and South America.
Geographers divide the planet into regions for ease of study. Various geographers have various definitions of these world regions. This Official Listing of Countries by Region divides the world into eight regions: Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, Europe, North America, Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Africa, and Australia and Oceania.
http://geography.about.com/od/learnabouttheearth/qt/qzcontinents.htm
I feel there are only four:
America
Eurasica
Australia
Antartica
Originally posted by Bardock42
Mostly weak on Britannica's part not to mention the other definitions.Either way, I don't know of statistics that say which parts of the population or scientific sources consider which definition as correct, so I can't comment on the dominance of one over the other. Just find it a bit presumptuous to take the one you happen to be familiar with as the dominant one without any evidence.
It is the dominant one. If you agree with that or not is irrelevant if IT IS the dominant one that people use. I'm not even calling it correct but without doing some real digging, it's hard to find something that says otherwise.
That means nothing but as you have already said, apparently there is no real definition so I just go with what people can define it by. Pulling straws for this specific subject seems petty since it is not clearly defined.
Originally posted by chithappens
It is the dominant one. If you agree with that or not is irrelevant if IT IS the dominant one that people use. I'm not even calling it correct but without doing some real digging, it's hard to find something that says otherwise.
If you can prove that I will be happy to accept it. But even what Sym just posted said that the version with 6 or 7 is the dominant one.
I suppose to Americans (either type) it might be preferable to call themselves North or South Americans.
Odd argument anyways, I just wanted to point out that Blax view of it being North America (though I would probably tend to agree personally) is not necessarily more correct than the one I put forth earlier. And initially I wasn't even talking about the continents in specific, but the word in relation to Citizens of the USA.
Originally posted by Bicnarok
What an annoying knit picking prick you are, heres a small lesson in English.
When the word AMERICA is mentioned, it refers to the USA. The AMERICAS (notice the "S" on the end) refers to the continent.
Its 'nit picking' not 'knit picking' ! Good English lessons you give.
The point being emphasised was that the country is called U.S.
and America is the continent, or should i say continental plate, having its name originated from Amerigo Vespucci first arrived on the Brazilian shores.
This is a fact. Just because there is a percentage of people that keeps referring to it wrongly does not make it right by default.
A lot of people also say "I could care less..." to denote that they couldn't care less, so let's not use the 'most people say it' excuse.
Someone from Peru is a Peruvian and a South American, someone from Canada is a Canadian and a North American, someone from the United States of America is a US citizen and a North American. When using the word American you should be prepared to use it in the context that your audience is used to. Your definition isn't any more correct than anyone else's, and acting like it is is nothing short of egotistical.
If you think that there's going to be confusion, then clarify yourself. End of discussion.
Originally posted by Kinneary
A lot of people also say "I could care less..." to denote that they couldn't care less, so let's not use the 'most people say it' excuse.Someone from Peru is a Peruvian and a South American, someone from Canada is a Canadian and a North American, someone from the United States of America is a US citizen and a North American. When using the word American you should be prepared to use it in the context that your audience is used to. Your definition isn't any more correct than anyone else's, and acting like it is is nothing short of egotistical.
If you think that there's going to be confusion, then clarify yourself. End of discussion.
I have never heard of anyone who used American to mean anything except a person from the United States. Besides the level your taking this to would require clarification of both the phrases US citizen (which could refer to someone from the Mexican United States) and North American (which could refer to someone from the United States of America or from the Dominion of Canada).
There is nothing grammatically wrong with using the word American to denote a citizen of the United States of America and the usage is all but universally accepted so the "could care less" comparison is less than apt
Then why should it matter if Africa is called a country? Still, Stmmetric Chaos, question asks for a country and you should stick to that, because by saying America you are missing Hawaii which is hundreds of miles away from the other 49 states.
Hawaii is governed by the same constituation, currency, economy, hardware etc. so, yes it does matter.